Soft Market for the Holidays
November 21, 2016
The short work week has come at the right time for dealers as the coin market remains unsteady with many certified collector coins selling at discounts. Gold is barely above $1,200 an ounce ($1,211 as of this report) and Silver is at $16.58. The falling prices should be attracting buyers but it seems like most are waiting for even better opportunities, perhaps Black Friday type sales.

In this week’s LD Wholesale Market Dealer Price Guide most series are showing declining prices, from Half Cents through Standing Liberty Quarters. In most cases, the decreases are for the more common coins within a series, although there are some key date coins that have retreated as well. The 1909 S VDB Lincoln Cent is very popular and always in demand; lately, there have been too many available in the market and buyers have been able to be picky. The MS65 in Brown is down to $2,250 and the Red & Brown dropped to $2,375. With such a small difference in the current price between the two, most serious buyers would likely be looking for a nice RB over the Brown cent.

Even with all of this week’s declines in Lincoln Cents, there are a few that are on the way up. The 1912 S Red in MS66 is higher at $9,750 Market and the 1922 D RB in MS66 is up to $1,850. Also on the rise is the 1928 S in MS65 Red at $3,450; the MS64 is up as well at $735.

Some of the other smaller denomination coins, particularly Two-Cents and Three-Cents, are searching for lower levels. While there is still demand for specific coins, much of the demand is at discounted prices. The 1871 Two-Cent in MS66 Red is down to $22,000 Market and the 1871 PR66 BN has fallen to $1,150. In the Three-Cent Silver series the 1854 in MS66 fell to $10,250 Market, the 1859 in the same grade dropped to $5,050, and the 1858 PR67 is down to $14,750. In the Three-Cent Nickel series the 1865 in PR67 is lower at $8,150.

On a more positive note there are some better date Seated Half Dollars rising in Good through the AU grades. Some of these dates are not available very often so it can be difficult to purchase them at any price. However, at least one well-known dealer is trying to buy any and all he can locate and definitely willing to pay in advance of the market. The dates are 1841, 1841 O, 1845, 1848, 1850, and 1851 & 1852 including the O mints.